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Friday, February 24, 2012

Red & White Sampler

Here's my latest batch of Just Takes 2 blocks.

Anybody think this is a bit of a waste?! If you need to make your half square triangle THAT much bigger, then maybe you need to take a beginners quilt class! I will no longer trust their cutting sizes. I do not have that much red fabric and am trying to stretch it as much as possible. At $10 yard I want to throw away as little as possible. (Like my dad used to say, "Money doesn't grow on trees!)
Did anybody else see this in the directions?use the Dear Jane®Rule: cut it big and whack it off
What?! I like to cut it a tiny bit bigger, but really...this is ridiculous. This was never quite the rule I used when making my Jane Stickle quilt. Super unprofessional, in my humble opinion.

If you want to win a book and you have not left a comment, now would be a great time to do it.

Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini- click HERE (I finished it so the winner will not need to wait)Will draw Saturday, Feb 25th in the evening.

Back to Charm School- by Country Threads-click HERE. If you have not read the comments you need to do that too. What a hoot! Will draw Sunday, Feb 26th.

Yikes! I have never subscribed to the "cut bigger and whack it off" theory. Especially now that fabric has gotten so expensive! I'd rather measure twice, cut once and sew accurately. That said, your blocks do look great! The more I see of this project, the more I am tempted to join in...if all the other UFOs would just stop chattering at me!

I hear you on wasting fabric! I am working on my first foundation pieced quilt and it has taken a bit of time to get used to the idea of trimming after every seam. I feel pattern designers don't want to take a chance and be wrong and there is way too much emphasis on quilts being perfect. So, we end up getting patterns that ask for way more fabric in the requirements and spend double the time on trimming the final squares. And that having said, I love your blocks so far!

I am making the red and white sampler also. I thought I had read the directions wrong, and couldn't believe I had to cut that much off! I love this quilt so far, and yours are looking much more precise than mine.

I see what you mean about the waste.But your blocks are looking great. I have so many quilts to work on, I did not participate in this and others, but I am enjoying all the talk and photos of the projects.

I see what you mean about the waste.But your blocks are looking great. I have so many quilts to work on, I did not participate in this and others, but I am enjoying all the talk and photos of the projects.

I love your quilts and your humble opinions... hate waste! I am making a quilt right now that has 168 red/white blocks.. each a different (charm) red..I do not want to waste any of it. Carry on and thanks for your daily "shows".

Another Blogging friend mentioned the wasted amount for the Pinwheel block, so I cut my squares according to the Desired finished size compared to the solid square. For a 2" HST x 16, that is a lot of waste. I'm still reading my Sonoma Rose book, thinking of giving one away too.

No kidding on the instuctions for that one. I don't trust them either and have been re-writing/re-drafting for just about every block...What a pain. It was nice of them to actually mention the finished block size in the last installments though...That made it a bit easier to figure out! It will be a boss quilt when done though! I hope!

I agree that their instructions leave a lot to be desired. I did the pinwheels using my own methods; but the other paper pieced patterns are causing me problems...the pieces aren't big enough to cover the space so I'm having to recut a lot of them. And the number of pieces needed is inaccurate. I really wish they'd be a little more careful...test the patterns, maybe?? But your blocks sure look awesome!!!

I haven't made my JT2 blocks yet, I don't mind trimming a little bit, but the amount you have trimmed looks excessive to me. I like paper piecing for the accuracy, but it appears the block patterns being provided aren't quite so accurate, I'm using my EQ to give me accurate patterns.

How big was the waste piece? Really, isn't 1/8" enough to cut off? I totally agree with you. Some of the fabric I saw in Fabric Depot the other day were $12.99 a yard - way too expensive for those measurements.

I have tried thangles. Too much extra work. and what a mess.I bought the thangle ruler, but you have to cut out squares, then draw the lines. all that causes more time loss.I think I have found the solution!!the strip tube ruler. You cut your two strips of fabric, sew them together, then use the ruler to cut almost exact 1/2 square triangles you are wanting.http://www.cozyquilt.com/Aspx/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=517

I was thinking the same thing as I pieced this set of red & white blocks. I have been a bit disappointed with the instructions too although I do think the blocks are very unique. Your blocks are looking good!

I thought it was just me thinking there was alot of waste and a few mistakes. Here in Australia we pay around the $24 mark for a metre of fabric so I really don't like to waste anything! Having said that your blocks do look great Lori, mine should be finished today :-).

I agree that one had way too much waste. I do like a little to square everything up but not that much. Makes you wonder if you should trust the cutting for the blocks to come. I only have so much of my red and white fabric.

quite a stack of new blocks to add to your project Lori. they all look fabulous~!i have to agree with you on the wasted fabric issue. seems like an awful lot to trim away . . . i'm so careful with my cuts and like you i like to do a tiny trim to square up but that's way too much.

Add my voice to those that found it wasteful. I was really irritated with myself when I didn't think the SECOND time I cut those way oversized squares, but at least the lesson was learned (by me.) If the cutting instructions mentioned that the squares would be used for half-square triangles and gave the finished size, then we could all easily cut them with an allowance that was comfortable for us.

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